Fireworks sales sizzle

It’s decision time for Oregonians Max Browne, 7, center, his brother Nicholas Browne, 13, and dad Ken Browne at the Bomber Brothers fireworks tent at Northeast 78th Street and Highway 99. Sunday was the first day of legal fireworks sales, Sunday in Clark County. The family spent $198.86. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)

STEVEN LANE/The Columbian TNT Fireworks at 10604 N.E. Highway 99 bustles on Sunday, the first day of legal fireworks sales.

The local fireworks industry was alive and sizzling in some spots Sunday, the season opener for things that go ka-boom.

And if there was a battle cry, it might have been: "The Oregonians are coming. The Oregonians are coming."

Asked why he and his dad had traveled from North Plains, Ore., to Hazel Dell, 12-year-old Aaron Althoff said simply: "Better fireworks."

His dad, Kirk Althoff, 50, said they were stocking up for the family show on Independence Day that probably would include 30 guests. So what would that cost?

"Probably a couple hundred. I told Mom $100," Kirk said.

The two were at the Bomber Brothers stand at Highway 99 and Northeast 78th Street in Hazel Dell.

They were happy with Black Mambas, 20 mortars for $50, but Kirk said he was still seeking "something for a finale."

Nearby, the Browne family of Beaverton, Ore., was shopping wisely on a $200 budget: $160 for dad Ken Browne, 46, and $20 each for Max, 7, and Nicholas, 13.

"This is my favorite," said Nicholas, plucking a box from his blue shopper's basket. "This is a missile base, it can shoot 100 missiles."

"It goes on forever," Ken Browne added. And the missile base was a mere $4.

Edward "Dominic" Rinck, owner of the 16 Bomber Brothers outlets in Southwest Washington, was pleased with his opening afternoon of business. Fireworks went on sale at noon and sales are allowed in many areas of the county until July 4 or July 5.

"It's a busier opening day than it has been for some years. Customer counts are way up," said Rinck, 40, of Vancouver.

He said the Black Mambas were one of the best sellers and many folks were buying smaller fireworks "to extend their parties."

What does it cost to host a party?

"You can put a nice show together for $40," he said.

Rinck offered a warning to neophytes: "Family packs are robbery." He said it is smarter to put your own packages together with help from a fireworks staff member.

Rinck was partnering on 78th and Highway 99 with the Knights of Columbus of Vancouver and Camas, who provided 60 volunteers to run the stand in exchange for an agreed upon percentage of profits.

Johnnie Lagana of the Knights said at about 3 p.m., "We had 50 people in line at noon. We've been steady every since."

The Knights contribute to a number of charities including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Share House, Lagana said.

Farther north on Highway 99, Frank McKoy, of Blackjack Fireworks, considered his sales and said, "You can definitely see the economy has affected fireworks sales.

"Mortars are the No. 1 item in here and everybody wants mortars," he said. His price: $6.50 for a box of six.

"I hope to see some better crowds but we're doing better than most of the tents I see 'cause everybody knows Blackjack," said McKoy, of Texas. He said Blackjack has been selling fireworks in Hazel Dell since 1982.

Next door at TNT Fireworks, sales manager Bill Rogers, adorned in a red, white and blue "Cat in the Hat"-style topper, was ebullient.

Sales?

"They are stellar," he said.

"We're the Costco of fireworks here," Rogers boomed. "We are the largest fireworks tent in the world — 13,000 square feet." He said the business had roughly 10,000 transaction in 2008.

At the south edge of Hazel Dell, at 63rd Street and Highway 99, Gene and Kris Marlow noted their Phantom Fireworks stand raises money for the planned 2010 July Fourth show at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

His sales at one of 85 fireworks stands around Clark County?

"Too early to tell," Gene Marlow said at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. "Yes, the economy is a factor. People are looking for the best bang for the buck."

He noted the stand offers a 10 percent discount for purchases of $500 or more for those with big pocketbooks or who are having a neighborhood fireworks party.

Talk about a party, Bob and Lori Miller of Fisher's Landing decided they wanted to set the skies on fire.

They plunked down $668.09 at the tent at 78th and Highway 99 and needed help from two Knights of Columbus workers to get their booty into a Dodge Durango. They have two children, Nicholas, 14, and McKenzie, 13.

"With Fort Vancouver not working this year we're doing a (July 4) block party and we're closing the street," Bob said. There will be games and food and, oh yes, fireworks.

"I'm still not done yet," Bob said. "I still have a few to grab."

Like what?

Something for a big finale, multimortars, he said. "They call them pancakes."

There will be no Fort Vancouver show this year for the first time since 1962.

This year's July 4 show was canceled after the Fort Vancouver National Trust, which has presented the daylong music-fireworks extravaganza, lost its primary sponsor last year.

Organizers hope to bring back a reformatted family-oriented show in 2010 that connects with the reserve's history and includes a smaller fireworks display, fired from an area near Pearson Field instead of from a barge moored in the Columbia River.

This year, the trust has cut a deal with fireworks vendors and suppliers and will receive $100,000 from fireworks sales at 14 stands displaying the 4th of July event logo.

Donations for the 2010 celebration can be made online at the trust's Web site, www.fortvan.org, or at the trust office in the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St.